Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Lleyton Moore of the Oshawa Generals, Jonah De Simone of the Niagara IceDogs, Michael Vukojevic of the Kitchener Rangers and Ryan Mast of the Sarnia Sting have been named the OHL Academic Players of the Month for November.
East Division: Oshawa Generals sophomore blueliner Lleyton Moore has been named the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for November. The grade 12 student holds an impressive 85% average at Maxwell Heights Secondary School where he is taking law and international business classes.
Moore’s teachers describe him as a strong, conscientious student. “He is organized and on task,” said Tom Buchanan, Moore’s academic advisor. “Lleyton is an outstanding role model and a leader amongst his peers both on and off the ice.”
A 17-year-old native of Woodbridge, Ont., Moore has 12 points (1-11–12) over 25 contests with the Generals this season. The 5-foot-8, 170Ib. defenceman was originally selected by the Niagara IceDogs with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
Central Division: Niagara IceDogs second-year forward Jonah De Simone is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for November. De Simone holds an 87% average in his grade 12 university prep courses at Governor Simcoe Secondary School.
“Jonah is a fantastic role model for many of the younger high school-aged players,” said IceDogs academic advisor Tim Tope. “His commitment to his studies will undoubtedly serve him well in the future.”
The 17-year-old winger from Richmond Hill, Ont. has recorded seven points (3-4–7) over 27 games with the IceDogs this season after being the club’s fourth round (70th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
Midwest Division: New Jersey Devils prospect Michael Vukojevic has earned the title of OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for November. Following his first few months studying psychology and sociology at Wilfrid Laurier University, Vukojevic is described as an energetic, thoughtful student and has received praise for his ability to ‘take suggestions and run with them’ in different situations.
“Michael has a strong ability to balance his hockey and educational career with a positive attitude,” said Dave Tennant, the Rangers’ academic advisor. “He excels not only in the classroom but helping to teach and guide in the community by joining the Rangers on various community initiatives.”
An 18-year-old native of Oakville, Ont., Vukojevic has nine points (2-7–9) through 24 games in his third OHL season. The 6-foot-3, 210Ib. defenceman was a third round (82nd overall) pick of the New Jersey Devils this past summer after recording 29 points (3-26–29) over 68 games with the Rangers in 2018-19.
Vukojevic suited up for Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship where he registered two assists in seven games. He was one of four recipients of the Rangers’ Academic Achievement Award at the end of last season.
West Division: Sarnia Sting rookie defenceman Ryan Mast has been named the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for November. He maintains an 80% average at Northern Collegiate/Blyth Academy in his grade 11 university english and environmental science classes, as well as his grade 12 university functions class.
“Ryan’s academic achievement is a direct reflection of his work ethic and commitment to being the best student athlete that he can be,” said Sting academic advisor Mark Scott. “Ryan is a leader in the classroom and is a great example for his teammates.”
A 16-year-old native of Bloomfield, Mich., Mast has seven assists through his first 26 games of the season. The 6-foot-4, 200Ib. defenceman was a ninth round (169th overall) pick of the Sting last spring from the Detroit Compuware U16 program.
2019-20 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division:
November – Lleyton Moore (Oshawa Generals)
October – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
Central Division:
November – Jonah De Simone (Niagara IceDogs)
October – Pacey Schlueting (North Bay Battalion)
Midwest Division:
November – Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Zack Terry (Guelph Storm)
West Division:
November – Ryan Mast (Sarnia Sting)
October – Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
Last season, the OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 340 OHL Alumni at 69 different academic institutions across North America with a total scholarship payment in excess of $3.2 million. Since the 2007-08 season, OHL Scholarship payments have totalled more than $25 million.
Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.
Team Canada announced its roster for the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, which begins august 6, 2018 in Edmonton and Red Deer, and of the 22 players named to the roster, just four hail from the Ontario Hockey League. 
OHL Writers 